Electric switch.



PATENTBD JAN. 7, 1908.

1.. G. BAUM. ELECTRIC SWITCH. APPLICATION FILED 00124. 1905.

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F 3* Wi-t-neoaeo v No. 875,978.- PATENTED JAN. 7, 1908 F. G. BAUM.

ELECTRIC SWITCH. APPLICATION FILED 00T.24..1906.

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FRAXK GEORGE BAUM, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

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Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. '7, 1908.

Application filed October 24:. 1905. Serial No. 284.183.

T all whom it may concern.

cated by b, 7 and b". The terminal insu- Be it known that l, FRANK G. BAUM, acitilators b and b have metallic clamps c suitzen of the United States, residing atSan Francisco, in the county of San Francisco and State of California, have invented eertain new and useful lm .ro'vements in Electric Switches. of which t 1e follov'ving is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to electric switches,

and has special reference to switches adapted l and operated by means of a'rod or other device extending downward within reach from the ground. In the very high voltage sys tems it is desirable that the switches be constructed to open each line at two or more. points, preferably by means of a horizontal swinging switch element which .normally forms a part of the line circuit. Such an element must always be insulated to the same extentas the conductors and the switch must be strong and durable to withstand the action of the weather and any rough handling that operatives or workmen may subjoct it to. I

My improved switch will be described in detail in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a plan of the structure at the to i of a pole or poles supporting three hi h yo tage conductors; Fig. 2 is a section of t ie structure shown in Fig. 1 taken along line a::r thereof; Fig. 3 is an end View of the said structure omitting the auxiliary supporting insulator, and Fig. 4 illustrates a modification.

While the drawings illustrate a three-unit switch, it will be understood that the principle of the invention is fully embodied in a single switch unit.

A andB res )ectively indicate the upright and horizonta members of a su porting structure or frame, upon which the l iigh voltage conductors are carried. On this structure are mounted three rows of insulators, one adapted for each of three conductors.

Each row of insulators comprises three insulators forming art of my iiinprovedswitch, and a fourth being an ordinary insulator used for supporting the conductor before it reaches the first switch insulator. The three insulators comprised in the switch are indiably secured to their upper surfaces and sustaining a pair of diverging chps 0 arranged with their openings directed, in the one case to theright and in the other case, to the left. The middle insulator I) also carries a metallic clam c to which is secured a conducting switc 1 arm f extending in 0p )osite directions to each of the terminal insulators and there I fitted with blades or plates adapted to engage with the clips 0. The insulators b and b are rigidly su ported on the framework, but the insulator is mounted to rotate with its pin 9, and for this purpose, it isprovided with a crank arm h, by moving which it will be seen that the arm f will be swung in a horizontal plane either to bring the blades f into vengagement with the clips 0 or to sever this engagement. By constructing the switch in this manner the. space between the terminal insulators may be as great as desired, and although the current passes through the switch arm when the switch is closed, it is as effectual y insulated by the middle insu lator upon which it is supported, as are the metal parts of the circuit attached to the terminal insulators b and b". The. oscillating insulator may be moved in any desired way. Any suitable connections may be made with the crank arm h whereby the switch may be operated with perfect safety, whether it be located at the top of the pole or in any other place. i

When a number of the switch units are mounted upon a single structure, I prefer to provide means for actuating them all simul' taneously, and the drawing illustrates a mechanism for operating the three switch units in this manner. This mechanism consists of a connecting member or bar'i pivotally attached to each of the crank arms h.- A thrust rod j takes hold of the connecting bar at some point j, and leads to one arm of a acter can be constructed as heavy and strong as may be necessary to withstand the elements, and as the insulators are of the stand- 1 ard variety a certain economy inconstruction is derived. If only a single break in the conducting path is desired, one-half the switch arm may be omitted and a flexible conductor substituted therefor, as seen in Fig. 4-

' An electric switch for high tension circuits, comprising a frame having upright, and horizontal members, three rows of insulators mounted thereon, each row having two fixed insulators and an intermediate swivel insulator, arms carried by said swivel insulators and having portions forming blades at their extremities, metallic clamps on the adjacent seems fixed insulators and having diverging clips arranged with their openin s directed oppositely, and in the path of t e blades of said arms, crank arms extending from the swivel insulators, a connecting member or bar joining the crank arms, a thrust bar connected to said connecting bar, a bell'crank connected to said thrust rod, end an operating rod connected to the other'arin of the bell crank.

In witness whereof, I subscribe my signeture, in the presence of twowitnesses.

FRANK GEORGE BAUM. Witnesses: W. A. HnA'rncoTn. J. l. Pnrnns. 

